Technology

Walmart, DroneUp expanding drone delivery network

Provided

May 24, 2022

Walmart, in a partnership with DroneUp, aims to expand its drone delivery network to 34 sites across six states this year.

The expansion will provide the service to 4 million U.S. households and a capability to deliver over 1 million items within the year, according to a Walmart blog post.

Customers can get drone delivery from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in 30 minutes with a delivery fee of $3.99. The six states are Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The news comes at a time when consumers are eager for faster and easier delivery options.

In addition to package delivery the retailer said it will "continue to influence" the expansion of drone technology and enable other businesses to explore its benefits, stated the post.

"We continue to expand our delivery operations to help customers get the items they need when they need them, and it's been an exciting journey. From Express delivery, where customers can have items delivered to their doorstep in as little as two hours, to InHome, where they can get those orders placed right into their refrigerator, we're proud to offer customers multiple options that help them save time and money," wrote David Guggina, SVP of innovation and automation at Walmart.

"After completing hundreds of deliveries within a matter of months across our existing DroneUp hubs, we've seen firsthand how drones can offer customers a practical solution for getting certain items, fast. More importantly, we've seen a positive response from our customers that have used the service. In fact, while we initially thought customers would use the service for emergency items, we're finding they use it for its sheer convenience, like a quick fix for a weeknight meal. Case in point: The top-selling item at one of our current hubs is Hamburger Helper," stated Guggina in the post.

Participating stores will house a DroneUp delivery hub featuring a team of certified pilots, operating within FAA guidelines. Once a customer places an order, the item is fulfilled from the store, packaged, loaded into the drone and delivered right to their yard using a cable that gently lowers the package.

"The customer has always been at the center of our focus at Walmart, and we look for partners that are as laser-focused on customer experience as we are. DroneUp has been a reliable partner as we've tested this solution and their capabilities will enable our business to scale with speed while maintaining a high caliber of safety and quality," wrote Guggina.